The S4A program funds rigorous scientific studies that are designed to evaluate the impact of initiatives that align medical, social, and public health systems. This 2025 call for proposals (CFP) will provide funding for a new cohort of research studies to produce new, actionable evidence for aligning across the three systems to address systemic racism.

Each study funded under this CFP must (1) identify a specific form of systemic racism that limits health and well-being for affected populations; (2) be led by a community-based organization with a research partner; and (3) investigate a novel systems alignment strategy for solving the problem that engages relevant representatives from medical care, public health, and social services systems. The systems alignment strategy to be studied must engage all three types of systems that comprise the health and social ecosystem in American communities—medical care, public health, and social services. For definitions and examples of systemic racism and potential solutions, please read this review article. Read the full CFP for more information about this specific funding opportunity.

S4A studies novel SA interventions using rigorous scientific methods to evaluate their potential to improve health outcomes for populations that experience health inequities. Examples include: (a) multisector governance models that distribute decision-making power and authority more equitably across medical, social, and public health systems; (b) new financing models that pool funding across medical, social, and public health systems and target these resources to the services and supports needed in historically marginalized communities; (c) multisector data collection and data-sharing models, such as social health information exchanges that seek to improve the identification of unmet health and social needs in historically marginalized communities and to assist these communities in accessing services that address unmet needs; and (d) new staffing and workforce models, such as including community health workers, peer support workers, and cross-trained health and social service professionals to strengthen coordination across health and social service systems. More information about previously funded S4A studies can be found here.